Maynard baseball uses late rally for win

The Tigers (7-1, 4-0 Mid Wach E) have allowed just eight hits in their last two games, including a 2-1 win at West Boylston on Monday.

On Friday, Maynard shut out Murdock, 10-0, as the Tigers have now crafted a seven-game winning streak.

James Connor went eight innings to earn the win Monday as shortstop Tyler Cedeno homered in the top of the eighth.

Both teams scored in the first as Maynard struggled to reach Lion starter Alec Tata.

Matt Geiger fired a four-hit five-inning shutout Friday.

Maynard coach Jim Stewart expected a battle Monday.

"Our upcoming schedule will show where we’re at," he said. "We were 1-7 at this time last year. It’s a big turnaround."

While the Tigers needed a late rush to earn a playoff spot last year, they are in the thick of the conference race in 2017.

"Hopefully we can continue this turnaround," Stewart said.

The Maynard defense has also continued to stiffen, allowing just one error the last two games.

It was a far cry when the Tigers opened the season with a crushing loss to Central Catholic. Maynard had just emerged from the gymnasium, thanks to weather, and had just a day’s worth of practice out of doors.

"I wish we had played them the third game of the season," Stewart said.

Against Murdock, Geiger fanned seven and didn’t walk a batter.

Meanwhile, Alex Longo and Nick Callahan drove in a pair of runs each. Alex Kucich scored three times as the Tigers led 10-0 after three innings.

Maynard rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a win from Ayer-Shirley, 3-2, in Mid-Wach E baseball April 27.

Longo allowed just five hits.

Kucich drove in P.J. Falzone with a single in the bottom of the seventh to beat the visiting Panthers.

P.J. Falzone tied the game earlier in the inning with an RBI double.

Ayer-Shirley led, 2-0, after five innings, but Maynard pushed a run across in the sixth inning to set up the seventh.